Historic Downtown Oregon City

CPA Mike Gavaza starts the New Year as head of MJ Gavaza, CPA PC with the acquisition of AJH Financial Services.

Downtown Oregon City’s mix of retailers, restauranteurs and professionals received another new addition this year.  Starting this year, Certified Public Accountant Mike Gavaza is helping clients from around the region with accounting, business advisory, and tax preparation and advisory services.

Mike acquired the assets of AJH Financial Services at 216 7th Street, near the base of the Municipal Elevator.  Mike, a Tualatin resident, and his family moved to the area in 1998. Mike has 20 plus years of public accounting experience and has spent the last10 years working for a larger downtown Portland CPA firm.  He has spent the last two years searching for the right opportunity to run his own firm.

“I wanted a better quality of life for me and my family and to be able to offer a more personalized service to my clients,” said Mike, Owner of MJ Gavaza, CPA PC at 216 7th St. “I like what’s happening in downtown Oregon City and I decided I want to be a part of that.”

Mike originally began looking at acquiring a larger firm, but he felt a strong connection to the smaller, close-knit community downtown and he likes the positive interaction between downtown Oregon City business owners and professionals.

“Downtown Oregon City offers a range of shopping and services to visitors,” said Lloyd Purdy, Director of Oregon City’s downtown revitalization program. “We’re pleased that Mike decided to bring his skills and talents to the downtown marketplace.”

AJH Financial Services’ owner, Anna Handegard, will be available as a consultant for tax representation services and to assist with the transition of AJH clients.  She sold the Tax and Accounting business to Mike so that she could focus her time on representation services only and will be working exclusively with MJ Gavaza, CPA PC.  Former AJH employee Milena Rodgers, LTP, has joined the team of MJ Gavaza, CPA PC and will also assist with the transition of AJH clients.

Operating out of an almost 1,000 square foot office near the base of the Municipal Elevator in downtown Oregon City, Mike and his team are positioned to grow their business.  Throughout the year they will work with individuals and businesses in helping them meet their accounting and tax needs.

“We’re constantly updating our skills, our education, and our tools to make sure we offer clients the best personalized service we can – even in an environment of constantly changing tax laws and regulations,” said Mike. “I enjoy helping clients meet their financial needs and goals. No matter what a client needs, the key for me is a high level of personal service.”

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Arcade Collector Opens Stryker’s Main Street Arcade & Family Fun Center at 611 Main Street.

Some pedestrians in Downtown Oregon City may have felt a bit like the theme character in the classic 1980’s arcade game “Frogger” recently as they navigated through the new two-way traffic on Main Street. Staring this month, downtown visitors can try their hand at navigating even more perilous setting from the safety and comfort of downtown’s newest business.

Canby resident Martin Lackner is opening Stryker’s Main Street Arcade & Family Fun Center at 611 Main Street just in time for the holidays.  This arcade located in 1,100 square feet at the historic Meyers Building is a coin-operated arcade with video games from the 1980’s up to 2006, as well as pinball, air hockey and prize games.

“This is the closest thing to a time machine,” said owner Martin Lackner. “Especially in this economy $20-$30 buys a lot of entertainment for the family at an arcade.”

Lackner, an arcade game collector for the last 12 years, has hundreds of video games and provides his products to arcades throughout the Portland area. He decided to open a business at 611 Main Street because downtown is growing into a destination, it’s close to his home, and it’s a convenient location for visitors.

“We bring energy, excitement and a more diversified mix of family friendly entertainment to downtown,” said Lackner.  Stryker’s Main Street Arcade will be available for parties, tournaments, events, arcade game sales and arcade repair. “We provide a clean, quality, family friendly environment that’s fun. That’s what it’s all about,” said Lackner.

Lackner is one of the four largest Portland area arcade collectors. He owns hundreds of arcade games and felt this was the right time to turn his hobby of arcade game collecting into a fun business. Initially, the arcade at 611 Main Street will be open evenings and weekends from Thursday to Sunday with special hours available for private parties and events.

“Martin and his arcade are a nice addition to the downtown marketplace,” according to Lloyd Purdy, Director of the downtown revitalization program. “Family friendly entertainment like the arcade work well with our growing boutique retail and locally owned restaurant options downtown.”

Stryker’s Main Street Arcade and Family Fund Center is the 38th new business to open in downtown Oregon City since revitalization efforts began in early 2009.  More information can be found about the arcade at www.strykersarcade.com.

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Abernethy Center to Install Historic Bell at Wedding Chapel

On Monday November 21, 2011, F&F Structures, Inc., the general contractor for the Abernethy Center in Oregon City will hoist a 30-foot bell tower to the top of the existing 35-foot tall Abernethy Chapel tower at 1326 John Adams Street.

The 1887 bell is originally from a Midwest church.  “Using an authentic bell from 1887 shows our commitment to reuse and to history,” said Mark Foley of F&F Structures. “We feel it is one more way to fit into Oregon City’s historic McLoughlin neighborhood.”

The scheduled installation time for the bell and tower addition is 12 noon.  The bell tower weights approximately 10,000 pounds; including the 36”, 420 pound, cast iron church bell that was purchased from a Michigan company and shipped more than 1,987 miles to Oregon City for use in the chapel.

The bell will be used by future brides and grooms following their marriage. When completed the Abernethy Chapel will be a classic white ceremony chapel tucked within a grove of trees. It will have a dedicated bridal and groom’s suites, and the capacity to hold 220 guests for ceremonies. The chapel will also have an intimate reception space for parties of up to 70 guests.

In conjunction with the completion of the new Abernethy Chapel, in spring 2012, Abernethy Center and its vendors/sponsors are partnering 9to give one deserving couple Abernethy Center’s Dream Chapel Wedding for up to 150 guests on April 27, 2012. Details are available on the Abernethy Center website.

The Abernethy Center began as a ballroom in 2001 and has expanded services as a meeting center and wedding location. In 2003 and in 2005 Abernethy Center added two different gardens to their downtown Oregon City location in order to offer a greater range of venues that include outdoor and indoor wedding services.

The Abernethy Center has won several awards recognizing the high quality of their service and location including: Oregon Bride Magazine Best of 2011 – Best All-Inclusive Wedding Venue, Oregon Bride Magazine Best of 2010 – Quintessential Oregon Reception Site, Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award – 2008, 2009 and 2010.

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Two-way traffic soon to be restored to downtown marketplace.

Within the next two weeks, downtown Oregon City’s Main Street will convert back to a two-way street. Based upon two years of work that includes a range of downtown revitalization efforts, Federal and ODOT grant funding, as well as recommendations by numerous consultants, the City of Oregon City will stripe a new center line down Main Street in order to return the street to its original circulation flow.

A video animation produced by Funnelbox Production Studios in downtown Oregon City guides visitors through this new circulation pattern.

A two-way Main Street simplifies the circulation system in downtown Oregon City and provides more efficient access to on-street parking and side streets in the downtown core. The biggest change this year will be along Main Street between 6th and 9th Streets, which had been a one-way stretch of road when downtown was host to Clackamas County’s administrative offices.

“A two-way Main Street works in downtown Oregon City because we’re welcoming visitors off of 99E and making driving downtown a more simple and intuitive process,” said Lloyd Purdy, Director of the non-profit downtown revitalization program MSOC.  “Downtown Oregon City is evolving into a retail and restaurant friendly marketplace, not just a center for creative professionals.”

A two-way Main Street circulation system will connect future development on what used to be 1st through 5th Street (currently Willamette Falls Development Site) to the downtown core and to infill development opportunities north of 10th Street. “A two-way Main Street becomes a unifying characteristic of our downtown marketplace,” said Purdy. “It’s a physical connection that benefits all downtown.”

The conversion back into a two-way Main Street wraps up the first phase a multi-phase, multi-year project that could ultimately culminate in more than $4 million in streetscape enhancements downtown from 5th to 15th Streets.  The City of Oregon City working with ODOT and the non-profit downtown revitalization program, Main Street Oregon City, competed for and was awarded nearly $2.4 million in Federal and State funding for streetscape improvement infrastructure projects focused on making downtown Oregon City more pedestrian and visitor friendly.

An animated video illustrating the new circulation system of downtown Oregon City can be seen by clicking here.

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Hometown Hero and Artist Lee Kelly Installs Major Commissioned Public Art in Downtown Oregon City

A monumental scale polished stainless steel sculpture created by internationally recognized artist Lee Kelly is scheduled for installation in downtown Oregon City on November 1st.

Unveiling ceremony on Saturday, November 5th at 10 am on 8th Street in Downtown Oregon City.

Sculptor Lee Kelly is an internationally recognized artist with a career that spans 55 years http://www.leekellysculpture.net/.  Last fall, his work was honored with a career retrospective exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. Based upon a $36,000 fundraising effort by the Rotary Club of Oregon City, Lee Kelly has been commissioned to create a unique piece of public art to be located at the foot of Singer Falls off of 8th Street in downtown Oregon City.

Lee Kelly (center) & Moontrap Intstall Crew on Nov. 1st

“When a downtown attracts a well known artist like Lee for a public art project, it’s a clear sign that good things are happening,” said Lloyd Purdy, director of the downtown revitalization program in Oregon City.  “Public art like Lee’s sculpture ‘moontrap’ welcomes visitors, speaks to residents, memorializes anniversaries, and engages the community.”

Lee Kelly has lived in the area since the 1960’s. According to Clackamas County Arts Alliance Director Cheryl Snow, this will be Kelly’s first significant public artwork in Oregon City.  Lee’s work on moontrap is also unique because of his close collaboration on this piece with his daughter Kassandra. The unveiling of this collaboration will be Saturday November 5th at 10 am at the base of Singer Falls.

Singer Falls in downtown Oregon City is a Works Progress Administration (WPA) era project that serves as a physical reminder of Oregon City’s history and heritage.  As a gateway between “uptown” and “downtown”, Singer Falls is also an important connective corridor for Oregon City. Support for this public art is derived from an Oregon City METRO Enhancement/Beautification grant.

Public Art Project in Downtown Oregon City funded by Rotary and an OC METRO Enhancement grant.

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New Changes in an Old Downtown.

Our 166-year old downtown continues to evolve into a modern marketplace. Keep an eye out – especially when driving downtown. Main Street will be returning to a two way street in the very near future.

A two way Main Street is more visitor friendly, more intuitive to drive, and supports higher level of restaurant and retail activity.

This Fall Main Street Oregon City will return to a two-way street.

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Take a look through the September 2011 edition of Oregon Business Magazine for a brief story about the entrepreneurial spirit found in downtown Oregon City.

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Downtown Oregon City’s Funnelbox Production Studios is the production team behind digital fitness hit Zumba – #1 on game charts for 11 weeks.

Zumba Fitness is a whole-body interactive video game based on the international dance-workout of the same name. Developed by Pipeworks and distributed by Majesco Entertainment, the game is available for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The game includes basic Zumba training, warm-ups and all-out exercises for different skill levels, all taught by famous Zumba instructors Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant, and Zumba creator Alberto ‘Beto’ Perez.

Funnelbox Production Studios, located in Downtown Oregon City, was approached by Pipeworks to capture the live-action dance sequences with the instructors on a green-screen stage, then edit the footage into loops and, using professional post-production techniques, create the color-processed silhouettes that appear in the game. In addition to hours of dance footage, Funnelbox filmed fitness stars Beto, Gina and Tanya giving advice and detailed descriptions of dance styles and Zumba moves.

The live-action portion of production was undertaken at Funnelbox’s professional sound stage using a RED One camera package and extensive grip and lighting equipment. Nearly one-hundred hours of footage were processed in post-production by our editors and motion graphics artists.

“The Funnelbox team is a hard working and creative group of professionals,” said Robb Crocker, President and CEO of Funnelbox. “When we partner with creative firms like Pipeworks the results are innovative and world class.”

The post-production process was the most involved, with more than a terabyte of footage had to be scoured to find just the right sequences, then perfected frame-by-frame to the smallest detail so they would seamlessly fit into the game world created by Pipeworks.

Zumba has been an international sensation since Beto brought the workout to the States and started the Zumba Fitness program in 2001. According to the official Zumba website, “the Zumba program has grown to become the world’s largest – and most successful – dance-fitness program with more than 12 million people of all shapes, sizes and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in over 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries.” It has been described as an ‘exercise in disguise’, providing participants a calorie burning workout that’s fun, social and entertaining.

The Zumba Fitness video game was produced for the launches of the Kinect for XBox 360 and the PlayStation Move, making it one of the first games created specifically for this new technology.

Since it’s release in November of 2010, Zumba Fitness: Join the Party has become a surprise hit, reaching more than three million sales in August [one million sold since June alone]. Released in the UK by 505 Games, Zumba hit the top of the charts in April and as of this writing has held the Number 1 spot for eleven straight weeks.

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Downtown Car Show: fueled by Columbia Insurance and Busch Family Furniture.

From 10 am to 4 pm, Main Street Oregon City will be bumper-to-bumper with cars, trucks and motorcycles of all types, makes and models. Join us for a fun day downtown.

Last year this event attracted more than 250 vehicles and about 3,000 visitors. We expect this year to be bigger and better.

Drivers are encouraged to enter Downtown Oregon City

via 12th or 14th Streets.

Visitors are welcome to park for free in the City Parking Lot at 13th and Main as well as on the bluff – go ahead and enjoy the elevator ride into downtown.

Registration fees from entry vehicles are used to fund charitable activities in Oregon City.

Join us downtown for another great event on September 17th.

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The first of several planned streetscape enhancement projects focused on downtown Oregon City have begun —  pedestrian focused improvements will continue through summer.

Last year the City of Oregon City competed for and was awarded about $2.4 million in Federal and State funding for infrastructure improvement projects focused on making downtown Oregon City more pedestrian and visitor friendly. This summer, contractors will begin work on the first phase of a multi-phase, multi-year project that could ultimately culminate in more than $4 million in streetscape enhancements on Main Street between 5th and 15th Streets.

The first phase of the project, beginning this month, includes returning Oregon City’s Main Street to a two-way — retail friendly road. This will be followed by pedestrian scale enhancements to the intersection of 10th and Main Streets.  “Our 166 year-old downtown is ready for these improvement projects,” said Nancy Kraushaar, City Engineer and Director of Public Works, “We’re taking the next step in revitalizing downtown Oregon City.”

Improvements to downtown Oregon City’s pedestrian-scale infrastructure will have a positive impact that reinforces the idea that in downtown Oregon City people take priority. Unique small businesses flourish when the downtown marketplace is pedestrian friendly. Downtown Oregon City can continue to evolve into a fully mixed-use neighborhood when the streetscape design and vehicle circulation improvements are implemented.

“Improved vehicle circulation makes it easier for visitors to navigate downtown. This is a plus for downtown development and new business starts,” said Lloyd Purdy, Director of the non-profit Main Street Oregon City, “Making our downtown more pedestrian friendly with better lighting, crosswalks and pedestrian-focused intersections supports a more vibrant and active downtown.”

The majority of the $2.4 million in project funding for the downtown improvement projects comes from Federal and State funds via several grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation.  The intent of this project is to make downtown Oregon City a more pedestrian and retail friendly and environment in order to support the revitalization of the downtown marketplace.

The next step of this multi-phase downtown improvement project will occur between 5th and 10th Streets with the replacement of worn out sidewalks, curbs and cross walks, as well as the installation of new energy efficient streetlights.

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